Process of making cover-plates.



T. C. PROUTY.

PROCESS 0F MAKING COVER PLATES.

APPLxcATloN FILED JAN. 2. '.911'.

1,297,010. i lufuivd M111'. 11,1912).

MILES PF. HOUR UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

THEGDORE C. PBOUTY, 0F ELGIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN'OR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0-

THE VAN SICKLEN COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

PROCESS 0F MAKING COVER-PLATES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

Original application tiled February 9, 1915, Serial No. 7,189. Divided and this application ed January 2, 1917. Serial No. 140,197.

speedometers or the like, and particularly to an improved process for making the same. This application is a division of my original application, Serial No. 7189, filed February 9 1915.

7'The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved process of forming a cover plate such as is ordinarily used to protect and render visible the indicating members of a speedometer or the like.

Hitherto, in connection withsuch instruments, it has been customary to provide a metal casing in which the operating mechanism is inclosed, providing in addition, a glass cover plate having a sheet of paper, cardboard, or the like, placed at the inner side thereof. Suitable openings are usually provided in such disk of paper to permit an inspection of the indicating members. It has been found in connection with such apparatus that in spite of packing, special joints and the like between the glass disk and the metal casing, water and dust will penetrate thereinto and pass between the inner face of the glass cover plate and the paper disk, dirtying and injuring the latter.

My invention aims' to provide an iinproved process for forming a new form loi? glass cover plate in which desired printed indicia may be utilized andv a coating of celluloid enamel or the like, preferably white, or the like, is applied over such indicia with suitable sight openings therein provided, as will be more fully described hereinafter. My improved dial or cover plate and my improved process of making the same are fully described below and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my cover plate after the printed indicia have been ap plied thereto;

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation after the coating has been applied;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the completed.

cover plate; and

Fig. '5 is a front elevation' of a form of cutting jig or templet indicating the position of the cover plate therein indicated in dotted lines.

10 designates generally a circular plate or disk of glass upon one face of which I print such lndicia as are desirable, as indicated by numerals 11, 12, and 13, as shown in Fig. 1. In some instances this printing is done with dark ink when intended to be used with a light background, while in others I use light ink when contemplating the use of a dark background. The embodiinent 'shown in the drawings is a speedometer cover plate and is intended for use with a rotating speed indicating dial. For that purpose I provide an index or arrow-head 14 intended to aline with the vision on the rotating dial corresponding to the speed of a vehicle to which it may be applied.

After applying the printed indicia I spray one or more coats of celluloid enamel over the printed matter, as indicated by numeral 15 in Fig. 3. I have found that three separate coats of celluloid enamel or the like,

form a satisfactory coating for the cover plate. I then spray a coating of gloss lacquer or the like on top of the celluloid enamel coating and allow the same to dry.

It becomes necessary then to provide the necessary sight openings, such as openings 16, 17, and 18, see Fig. 4. Previous to performing the cutting of these openings I apply a coat of celluloid enamel with a brush or the like, this last coat serving to meisten the entire coating previously applied and while the same is still in a damp condition I place the cover plate, withthe coated side uppermost` in a jig ortemplet 19, as shown in Fig. '5, having cut the openings 20, 21, 22 therein, the same being provided with inclined sides and by the use of a cutting knife I cut out and peel oil the portions of the coating necessary to provide the sight openings 16, 17, and 18. The entire coating is then allowed to harden and the cover plate is in condition for use.

It will be apparent that by using such cover plate it is unnecessary to provide Separate printed disks of paper, or the like, which may become disalined with respect to the operating mechanism of the speedometer or the like and allowing the same to dry,

or the like. It is further impossible fordust, dirt, water or the like to penetrate between the coating and the glass plate, thereby insuring that the backgroun will be clean so that the printed indicia will be clearly defined thereagainst. Furthermore, the sight openings are permanently and definitely alined with respect to the printed matter and the operating mechanism.

It will be apparent that my improved cover plate and the process of making the same are susceptible'of changes and modifications, and I do not wish todae restricted to the form or process described or shown beyond the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A process of making cover plates for speedometers or the like consisting in rst placing the desired indicia on a plate of glass, then applying one ormore coats of Celluloid enamel or the like in liquid condition, then applying a coat of gloss lacquer and then moistening said coats previously applied and cutting out desired sight openings while said coating is still in a moist condition.

2. A process of making cover plates for speedometers or the like consisting in lrst placing the desired indicia on a plate of glass, then applying one or more coats of celluloid enamel or the like in liquid condition, then applying a coat of gloss lacquer or the like and allowing the same to dry, andy then applying a moistening coat lof Celluloid enamel or the like and cutting out desired sight openings while said coating is still in a moist condition.

3. A process for making cover plates for speedometers or the .like consisting in first printin the desired indicia on a plate of glass tien applying one or more coats of vCelluloid enamel or the iike in liquid condition over said printed indicia, then appl ing a coat of gloss lacquer over said cellulold enamel coating and allowing the same to dry, then applying a moistening coat of celluloid enamel or the like to the coating re- Viously applied, and cutting out desired sight openings while said coating is in a moist condition.

4. A process for making cover plates for speedometers or the like consisting of first printing the desired indicia on a plate of glass and spraying a plurality of coats of Celluloid enamel or the like over said indicia, then spraying a coat of gloss lacquer over said Celluloid enamel coating and allowing the same to dr and applying a moisteningv coat of cellulold enamel or the like to the coating previously applied, and then cutting out desired sight openings while said coating is in a moist condition.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

THEODORE C. PROUTY.

Witnesses:

N. H.` VAN SICKLEN, Jr., ISRAEL HATCH. 

